The three district schools are part of a 57-school cohort. These schools are forward thinking, creative and dedicated to sharing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) best practices. Cohort participants will collaborate and design innovative solutions to the challenges of educating students in STEM, and to prepare them to meet the high-tech needs of the future.

“This opportunity will provide a platform for educators from 57 Arizona schools to collaborate with community and industry, developing a pathway that will inspire student success in science, technology, engineering and math,” says Colleen Howard, district K-6 STEM coordinator. “Empowering students in these disciplines builds confidence and increases student interest in pursuing STEM courses and careers.”

Jeremy Babendure, executive director of AZ SciTech, shares, “We anticipated the first cohort would be made up of 20 school teams. We are proud to announce 57 teams from 26 districts have affirmed their commitment to join. This overwhelming response confirms the interest and passion of Arizona Schools for STEM education and their desire to work collaboratively to transform our STEM ecosystem.”

Mendoza, Red Mountain and Sirrine principals and staff are thrilled to embark on this new journey. District science staff will also be taking an active role.

“This is an amazing opportunity to collaborate with STEM leaders in Arizona,” says Deb Lynch, principal at Mendoza Elementary. “We will be building networks with STEM innovators across the state, collaborating with other STEM leaders, and will represent Mesa Public Schools as an innovative school working in the STEM community to be a leader in the field.”